Ten Percent of Maine Dairy Farmers
Now Shipping Organic Milk

August 1, 2002 (Unity, ME) -- The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners
Association (MOFGA) has encouraging news for dairy farmers and for
consumers interested in organic food. During the month of August, dairy
farmers in Maine will cross an important threshold. Over 10% of the dairy
farmers in Maine will be producing and shipping milk using organic standards.
This represents the highest percentage of organic dairies of any state in the U.S.

In Europe the organic milk market has been growing dramatically for over a
decade. Here in the U.S., organic milk production is a few years behind, but
growing rapidly. Six years ago, Maine had one dairy farm producing organic
milk. This month the number will reach fifty, a significant portion of the State's
420 dairy farms.

Organic dairy farmers meet strict production standards under both MOFGA
standards and USDA organic regulations. Milk cows need to have access to
pasture during the growing season. All haylage, hay, and grains fed to the cows
are grown on fields managed organically for at least three years. Farmers are
not allowed to give cows antibiotics or growth hormones.

The milk from Maine's organic dairy farmers primarily goes to two national
marketers--CROPP Cooperative and Horizon Organic Dairy. Members of
the CROPP Cooperative produce fluid milk under the Organic Valley label.
They also wholesale milk to Stonyfield Farms for yogurt. Horizon Organic
Dairy produces fluid milk under the Organic Cow label. Several smaller farms
bottle their milk on farm and sell directly to consumers and local retailers.

"We're proud that Maine is the first State to have ten percent of the dairy
farmers shipping organic milk", said Russell Libby, MOFGA's Executive Director.
"It's a good market for farmers, and a sign of the growing consumer interest in
eating organically produced foods. We look forward to seeing the number
grow in the future."

Contacts:

MOFGA can provide local organic dairy contacts from Gray north to
Charleston if you want to do a story featuring a farmer in your region.
Many are listed on our website at www.mofga.org.

To contact the national buyers:

CROPP, Wisconsin, George Siemons or Tim Griffin, 608-625-2602
Organic Cow/Horizon Organics, Vermont, Cindy Masterman, 802-685-3123